WASHINGTON -- Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, who told a national pageant audience she opposed gay marriage, is in a new U.S. TV ad attacking gay-marriage activists.

The ad called "No Offense" was launched in Washington Thursday by the National Organization for Marriage.

It assails gay-marriage activists who "attack people for supporting (heterosexual) marriage." It alleges the activists "don't want to debate the consequences of same-sex marriage" and instead "want to silence the opposition."

Prejean, 21, told NBC's "Today" show Thursday she was working with the non-profit group, which seeks to prevent the legalization of same-sex marriage, to "protect traditional marriages."

Prejean was named the first runner-up to Miss North Carolina in the Miss USA pageant April 19 after responding to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton's question about legalizing same-sex marriage.

A statement from the Miss California pageant said her work with the National Organization for Marriage "goes beyond the rights to voice her beliefs and instead reveals her opportunistic agenda."

It added that pageant executives were "deeply saddened" Prejean had "forgotten her platform of the Special Olympics (and) her commitment to all Californians."

An earlier National Organization for Marriage ad, titled "A Gathering Storm," featured actors issuing ominous warnings about the threats posed by same-sex marriage.